Two of the three state felony charges were dropped against six Greenpeace activists who climbed the 700-foot Hatfield's Ferry power plant smokestack in June to protest President Bush's energy policy.

The activists appeared in court yesterday for a preliminary hearing in Greene County. The charges dropped were felony riot and burglary. They still face criminal trespass charges.

Last month, the federal government dropped its charges against Lynn Stone, 38, of Sorrento, Maine; Josh Raisler Cohn, 27, of Portland, Ore.; Virginia Hunter, 43, of Los Angeles; Jessica Miller, 26, of Washington, D.C.; John Watterberg, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Renee Blanchard, 24, of Washington, D.C.

"We're pleased with the outcome of the preliminary hearing," Chris Miller, Clean Energy Now Campaigner with Greenpeace, said.

A date is pending for the arraignment of the activists on the remaining charge.